U.S. patent number 4,384,435 [Application Number 06/281,515] was granted by the patent office on 1983-05-24 for inflatable tent.
Invention is credited to Robert Marinacci, Victor W. Polise.
United States Patent |
4,384,435 |
Polise , et al. |
May 24, 1983 |
Inflatable tent
Abstract
A hemispherical inflatable tent of a plurality of compartments
generally in the shape of orange sections, inflated through a
manifold in the top of the tent communicating with each compartment
section.
Inventors: |
Polise; Victor W. (Woodbine,
NJ), Marinacci; Robert (Minitola, NJ) |
Family
ID: |
23077627 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/281,515 |
Filed: |
July 8, 1981 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/2.19; 52/2.25;
D25/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H
15/20 (20130101); E04H 2015/202 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04H
15/20 (20060101); E04B 001/345 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bell; J. Karl
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lennox; Thomas A.
Claims
We claim:
1. An inflatable enclosure, generally in the shape of a hemisphere,
comprising a plurality of sections, each being an air-tight
compartment and each having an outer face and an inner face,
wherein the number of compartments is sufficient in number such
that the outer faces, when joined, form the outer hemispherical
shape,
wherein the outer face of each section has two generally vertical
side edges, the edges being defined by the intersection of plane
extending from the vertical central axis of the sphere with the
spherical surface,
a bottom sealing means to seal lower edges of the inner and outer
faces together,
a marginal sealing means to seal the vertical edges of the inner
and outer faces of each section to each other and to seal these
edges to the vertical edge of the next adjacent section to form the
hemispherical shape,
an opening in each section near the top of the section, close to
the vertical central axis of the hemisphere,
a manifold comprising an air input aperture, a chamber in air flow
communication with the aperture and a plurality of passageway
openings, one opening for each section, each opening directed
radially from the central axis of the sphere, and
sealing means to sealably connect each passageway in air
communication to the opening in each section.
2. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein at least one section comprises
a transparent window portion in both the inner and outer faces of
the compartment, wherein the periphery edges of the inner and outer
faces of the window portion are sealably attached to form an
inflatable window shape in the section.
3. The enclosure of claim 2 wherein the window aperture is covered
with a clear plastic material.
4. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the material of the inner and
outer faces is fibrous reinforced plasticized polymer film.
5. The enclosure of claim 4 wherein the polymer film is plasticized
polyvinyl chloride.
6. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein there are six to twenty
sections.
7. The enclosure of claim 6 wherein there are ten to fourteen
sections.
8. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the bottom sealing means
comprises a bottom wall sealed to the outer face and the inner face
and at the exposed ends to the adjacent compartment edges.
9. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the outer hemispherical shape
comprises at least one-half of a sphere and is less than
three-quarters the surface of a sphere.
10. The inflatable enclosure of claim 1 wherein a closure means is
included in the manifold to allow air tight closure of each
passageway independent of the chamber.
11. The inflatable enclosure of claim 1 wherein the sealing means
is a tube sealably attached to the passageway, inserted into the
opening of the section and sealably attached to the opening.
12. The inflatable enclosure of claim 1 wherein an annular floor is
provided detachably attached to the inflatable enclosure
comprising
a ring of pie-sections, each section being a sealed compartment
with a top face and a bottom face,
an interface edge sealing means sealing edges of the top face to
the bottom face as they meet to form the air-tight compartment,
joining adjacent pie-sections to form the floor, and defining the
thickness of the floor,
an annular manifold located in the center cavity comprising an
annular chamber, an air input aperture, a plurality of passageway
openings radiating outwardly from the chamber, one for each
pie-section, and a closure means for each passageway opening,
capable of opening and closing air flow in and out of each
passageway,
an opening in each pie-section near the center of the section,
and
sealing means to sealably connect each passageway in air
communication to the opening in each pie-section.
13. The enclosure of claim 12 wherein each pie-section and the
interface edge sealing means comprise an outside circle vertical
wall, vertical side walls radiating from the center of the annular
shape joining adjacent pie-sections, and an inner vertical wall
defining the center cavity, wherein the interface edge sealing
means comprises the material of the faces interleaved together, an
adhesive seal between the interfaces and at least one sewn stitch
along the length of the interface through all thicknesses being
joined.
14. An inflatable enclosure, generally in the shape of a
hemisphere, comprising a plurality of sections, each section being
an air-tight compartment and each having an outer face and an inner
face, wherein the number of compartments is sufficient in number
such that the outer faces, when joined together, form the outer
hemispherical shape,
wherein the outer face of each section has two generally vertical
side edges, the edges being defined by the intersection of a plane
extending from the vertical central axis of the hemisphere with the
hemispherical surface,
interface edge sealing means sealing the edges of the faces meeting
to form each air-tight compartment section, sealing opposed
vertical side edges of adjacent sections to form the hemispherical
shape, and defining the thickness of the compartment of the
sections and the wall of the enclosure,
an opening in each section near the top of the compartment close to
the vertical central axis of the hemisphere,
a manifold comprising an air input aperture, a chamber in air-flow
communication with the aperture and a plurality of passageway
openings, one opening for each section, and an air-tight closure
means to open and close each passageway opening with each opening
directed radially from the central axis of the hemisphere, and
sealing means to sealably connect each passageway in air
communication to the opening in each section.
15. An inflatable enclosure, generally in the shape of a
hemisphere, comprising a plurality of sections, each being an
air-tight compartment and each having an outer face and an inner
face, wherein the number of compartments is sufficient in number
such that the outer faces, when joined, form the outer
hemispherical shape
wherein the outer face of each section has two generally vertical
side edges, the edges being defined by the intersection of plane
extending from the vertical central axis of the sphere with the
spherical surface,
a bottom sealing means to seal lower edges of the inner and outer
faces together,
a marginal sealing means to seal the vertical edges of the inner
and outer faces of each section to each other and to seal these
edges to the vertical edge of the next adjacent section to form the
hemispherical shape,
an opening in each section near the top of the section, close to
the vertical central axis of the hemisphere,
a manifold comprising an air input aperture, a chamber in air flow
communication with the aperture and a plurality of passageway
openings, one opening for each section, each opening directed
radially from the central axis of the sphere,
sealing means to sealably connect each passageway in air
communication to the opening in each section.
an annualr floor detachably attached to the inflatable enclosure
comprising
a ring of pie-sections, each section being a sealed compartment
with a top face and a bottom face,
an interface edge sealing means sealing the edges of the top face
to the bottom face as they meet to form the air-tight compartment,
joining adjacent pie-sections to form the floor and defining the
thickness of the floor,
an annular manifold located in the center cavity comprising an
annular chamber, an air input aperture, a plurality of passageway
openings radiating outwardly for each pie-section and a closure
means for each passageway opening, capable of opening and closing
air flow in and out of the manifold,
an opening in each pie-section near the center of the section,
and
sealing means to sealably connect each passageway in air
communication to the opening in each pie-section.
16. An inflatable enclosure, generally in the shape of a
hemisphere, comprising a plurality of sections, each section being
an air-tight compartment and each having an outer face and an inner
face,
wherein the number of compartments is sufficient in number such
that the outer faces, when joined together, form the outer
hemispherical shape,
wherein the outer face of each section has two generally vertical
side edges, the edges being defined by the intersection of a plane
extending from the vertical central axis of the hemisphere with the
hemispherical surface,
interface edge sealing means sealing the edges of the faces meeting
to form each air-tight compartment section, sealing opposed
vertical side edges of adjacent sections to form the hemispherical
shape, and defining the thickness of the compartment of the
sections and the wall of the enclosure,
an opening in each section near the top of the compartment close to
the vertical central axis of the hemisphere,
a manifold comprising an air input aperture, a chamber in air-flow
communication with the aperture and a plurality of passageway
openings, one opening for each section, and an air-tight closure
means to open and close each passageway independently, with each
opening directed radially from the central axis of the
hemisphere,
sealing means to sealably connect each passageway in air
communication to the opening in each section,
an annular floor detachably attached to the inflatable enclosure
comprising
a ring of pie-sections, each section being a sealed compartment
with a top face and a bottom face, and interface edge sealing means
sealing the edges of the top face to the bottom face as they meet
to form the air-tight compartment, joining adjacent pie-sections to
form the floor, and defining the thickness of the floor,
an annular mainfold located in the center cavity comprising an
annular chamber, an air input aperture, a plurality of passageway
openings radiating outwardly from the chamber, one for each
pie-section, and a closure means for each passageway opening,
capable of opening and closing air flow in and out of each
pie-section,
an opening in each pie-section near the center of the section,
and
sealing means to sealably connect each passageway in air
communication to the opening in each pie-section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Present invention relates to inflatable tent structures, generally
constructed of flexible sheet material suitable for camping and
other temporary type structures.
2. Description of the prior art
There has for some time been an increasing interest in outdoor
living and particularly in temporary structures, such as tents for
use in camping outdoors. Tents are typically constructed of
waterproofed cloth, typically fibrous reinforced plastic film, to
form an enclosure held up by a variety of posts and support
configurations, both inside and outside of the enclosure. Problems
associated with these posts and support members are well known to
those persons camping out. A great deal of failures occur due to
breakage, deterioration and misuse, causing substantial delay in
setting up camp, or even complete failure of the device, at a
particularly inappropriate time. To avoid these problems, possible
solutions have included trailers which include tent like
structures, which raise from the bed. The same mechanical
difficulties ultimately prevail in this type of structure as with
the standard tent structures.
A number of inflatable structures have been provided utilizing an
air blower which creates continuous air pressure within the
structure with controlled escape of air provided somewhere within
the structure. Typical of these structures are described in the
U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,992 to J. D. Stachiw, U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,363
to R. D. Candle and U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,369 to D. B. Riordan. Also
utilizing air pressure as well as separate inflatable compartments
is the isolation module described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,749 to F.
J. Busco. An additional inflatable enclosure is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,999,333 to J. G. Amarantos utilizing an endless hollow
header anchored to the floor or the ground.
None of the prior art described above fills the needs of the
outdoor camper and does not satisfy the objects of this invention
listed hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention satisfies the need of the outdoor camper as
described hereinabove.
An object of this invention is to provide an inflatable tent that
does not require continuous air supply and after inflation will
retain its structural integrity, despite loss of power.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a inflatable
tent structure that provdes an insulation from the outdoor
elements.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an inflatable
tent that requires no permanent attachment to a floor or the ground
and may be moved from place to place as the camper desires.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide an
inflatable tent which may be easily inflated with either one or
only a few attachments to a compressed air source.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide a stable
structure wherein a puncture will not cause deflation of the entire
structure.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a structure
that includes window and door configuration units without
significantly affecting the structural characteristics of the
tent.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide a structure
that uses no support poles and no continuous air source.
The inflatable tent of this invention is generally in the shape of
a hemisphere with the edge resting on the ground. It should be
understood that by the term "hemisphere" it is understood that this
term as used here and in the claims includes only the general shape
of the tent and is intended to include those shapes having a
greater amount than one-half of the spherical surface, and in some
cases less than the total surface of a hemisphere. It is preferred
that the shape actually include a surface greater than the
hemisphere as pictures in the preferred embodiments, and it is more
preferred that the shape be one-half up to three-quarters of the
sphere. The shape is determined by a plane passing perpendicular to
the central axis of the sphere, cutting through the outer surface
and preferably using the larger of the two parts remaining. The
tent includes a plurality of compartments, each having an outer
face and an inner face, with the outer faces of the compartments
combining to form the outer surface of the hemispherical shape.
There are a sufficient number of compartments such that the
combination of the outer faces forms the outside surface of the
hemispherical shape. The outer and inner face shapes each have two
generally vertical side edges, each edge being defined by the
intersection of a plane passing through and extending from the
vertical axis of the sphere and extending through the outer surface
of the hemisphere. Each compartment may be considered to generally
take the shape of a section, not unlike that of an orange, except
that an inner cavity in the hemispherical shape is provided. A
bottom sealing mechanism is provided so that the lower edges of the
outer and inner faces of each compartment are sealed together, and
preferably includes a lower bottom wall sealed to the inner and
outer faces. A marginal sealing device seals the side edges of the
outer and inner faces of each compartment and further seals these
marginal edges to the marginal edges of the next adjacent section
compartment to form the hemispherical shape. It is preferred that
this marginal sealing mechanism include a side wall which extends
along the marginal edge to define the thickness of the compartment
and thus the wall structure. It is preferred that the number of
compartments be six to twenty in number and more preferred that
they be ten to fourteen in number. An opening is provided in each
compartment near the top, close to the vertical central axis. A
manifold including an air input aperture capable of connection to a
pressurized air source, such as an air pump, a chamber in air flow
communication with a plurality of passage openings in the chamber,
one for each compartment, wherein each passage is directed radially
from the central axis. A sealing mechanism is provided connecting
each passage to the opening of the complimentary compartments. It
is preferred that the manifold include a valve device for each
compartment and a by-pass device for deflation of the entire
structure.
It is preferred that at least one compartment have a transparent
window section placed in the outer and inner faces, wherein the
periphery edges of the window section in the outer and inner faces
are sealably attached to form a portion of the compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inflatable tent of this
invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view looking down on the tent structure.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3A is a close up cross-sectional view of the bottom of a
section illustrating the bottom wall construction from FIG. 3.
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3A--3A of FIG.
3 to illustrate the wall joint construction between sections.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view looking from the top of the manifold
located in the top of the tent structure.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view looking from the bottom of the
manifold pictured in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inflatable floor of the tent
structure.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the floor and manifold
taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the manifold used in the center of
the floor pictured in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is an exploded cross-sectional view taken along lines 9--9
of FIG. 5 to illustrate the valve construction.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, tent 10 is illustrated in perspective view, including
tent enclosure 11 and floor 12. Enclosure 11 is constructed of
twelve separate compartment sections 13, each being a section of
the generally hemispherical shape of enclosure 11. Outside faces 25
of sections 13 are all that is visible in FIG. 1. An essentially
identical shaped inside face 26 (hidden in FIG. 1) forms the main
body of each section 13. Each section 13 is constructed of 5 to 20
mil nylon cloth reinforced, plasticized polyvinyl chloride polymer
film which provides an air-tight shield. Each section 13 is
inflated by manifold 14 through air valve input 15. As illustrated,
enclosure 11 is equipped with sealed transparent skylights 16,
window 17 and door 18, each constructed to form an inflatable
portion of the respective section 13, which utilizes the air
pressure in its respective section 13 to maintain support of the
section. Skylights 16 utilize a clear, plasticized, unreinforced,
polyvinyl chloride polymer film sealed into frame 19 of the regular
reinforced film. Floor 12 is constructed of sections 20, each being
a pie shaped section of the floor. Tent enclosure 11 and floor 12
are fixed together through tie ropes 21 between loop lug 22 on
section 13 and loop lug 23 on section 20. In FIG. 2, enclosure 11
is shown in the top view and in FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view
along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In this latter view,
outside face 25 is shown with inside face 26 to form a section 13
with air space 32, sealably enclosed to form each section 13. In
FIG. 3A, a close up of the bottom wall of section 13 is
illustrated, showing inside face 26 folded under and outwardly to
form inner flap 33 and outside face 25 being folded inwardly to
form outer flap 34, which when sealed with PVC adhesive and sewn at
inner seal 35 and outer seal 36 forms the lower wall of each
section 13. In FIG. 3B, a cross-sectional view is taken from above
to illustrate the joining of each section and construction of the
joint wall between each section. Each outside face 25 is folded
inwardly to form outside flap 29 and each inside face 26 is folded
outwardly to form inside 30. PVC adhesive is used to seal the four
layers together and the joint wall is further held together with
outside nylon sewn seal 31 and inside sewn seal 32.
Manifold 14 is illustrated in FIG. 4 showing standard air pressure
valve input 15 threaded on the outside to receive a standard air
pressure connector from an air pump, capable of providing pressure
up to about 10 to 30 psig. Manifold 14 is constructed of 1/8 inch
thick rigid thermoset plastic for all parts including top wall 38.
One inch OD passage spoke tubes 39 are sealably attached to top 38
to extend radially in air flow communication from central housing
40 as illustrated in the bottom view of FIG. 5, which is in direct
air communication with air input 15. Each tube 39 is connected to
its respective section 13 through a tube and seal system as shown
below in FIG. 8. Each passage tube to 39 is equipped with valve 41,
capable of completely closing off the tube. The cross-sectional
view of FIG. 9 taken along lines 9--9 of FIG. 5 illustrates the
molded valve 41 with threaded handle and seat stem 42 which
interfits with seat 43 to seal off and close passage 39. Enclosure
11 is inflated by attachment of an air source to air input 15. When
enclosure 11 has been completely inflated, the air source is turned
off and the enclosure entered to close off each of valves 41.
Puncture of a single section 13 will not significantly affect the
structural integrity of enclosure 11. Actually, the puncture may be
sealed in place and by re-opening valve 41 for that particular
section 13, it may be inflated with a suitable air pump.
In FIG. 6, floor 12 is illustrated as constructed of sections 20
which are inflated fibrous reinforced plastic of the same material
as enclosure 11. As with enclosure 11, all joints are over lapped,
double stitched and sealed to be air tight, as illustrated in FIG.
3B. Each section 20 is constructed of top 45, outside sidewalls 46
(constructed as shown in FIG. 3A) and bottom 47 which is identical
in shape to top 45. In the center of floor 12 is located manifold
48, as pictured in FIG. 8, constructed of thermoset plastic
including bottom plage 49, on which is welded ring enclosure 50
with passage tubes 51 radiating out and in air communication with
ring housing 50. Each tube 51 is equipped with shut-off valves 55
identical to that of FIG. 9. Each tube 51 is connected to sections
20, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7. Aperture
53 is formed in central wall 44 of section 20. One end of plastic
tube 54 is adhesively sealed in aperture 53 and the other end is
adhesively sealed in tube 54 to provide direct air communication to
ring housing 50. Door 18 is constructed such that upper edge 56 and
leading vertical edge 57 are not attached to the adjacent section
13. Hinge edge 58 is constructed as illustrated in FIG. 3B, except
that inside sewn seal 32 is skipped so that door 18 may swing free
on outside sewn seal 31. Air is introduced to inflate floor 12
through air valve input connector 52. Central wall 44 provides a
seal between top 45 and bottom 47 constructed as shown in FIG.
3A.
The transparent portions of the enclosure such as the windows,
skylight and door are illustrated as merely portions of the inner
and outer faces. They may be constructed independently with or
without a frame inflated and constructed of the reinforced
materials of the respective faces. It is preferred that the
enclosure be constructed of six to twenty separate air-tight
compartment sections and more preferably constructed of ten to
fourteen such sections. The edge sealing means sealing all the
edges of the faces, including the generally vertical side edges,
they being defined by the intersection of the plane passing from
the central axis of the hemisphere through the surface of the
hemispherical shape, as well as the bottom edges resting on the
ground provide an interconnection and seal between the faces as
well as the faces of the adjacent sections and further define the
thickness of the compartment of each thickness and thus the wall
thickness of the enclosure. The preferred inner face edge sealing
device is an interleafing of the face edges with an adhesive
bonding agent between each face and a sewn stitch through all
layers interleafed together. It is more preferred that there be a
sewn stitch close to the plane of the outer face of the section as
well as a second sewn stitch along the plane of the inner faces.
Thus, the construction of the inner face edge of the generally
vertical edges is an interleafing of four layers of material with
two rows of stitching, one close to the adjacent outer faces of the
adjacent sections and one close to the inner faces of adjacent
sections. The distance between these two stitch lines defines the
thickness of the wall of the enclosure. The manifold includes an
air input aperture, preferably a pressure actuated valve closure,
similar to that on automobile tires, a chamber in air flow
communication with the air input, the shape of the chamber
preferably being in the shape of a round wafer with the air input
on the top wall of the wafer. A plurality of passageway openings,
equal in number to the number of sections of the enclosure, are
provided with air-tight closure mechanisms such a valve to open and
close each passageway opening independantly. Each opening is
directed radially to each section of the enclosure. An inflatable
floor is preferably included generally in the shape of an annular
ring of pie-sections, each section being a sealed compartment with
a top face and a bottom face. Inner face edge sealing means seal
the edges of the top face to the bottom face as they meet to form
the air-tight compartments, join adjacent pie-sections to form the
floor and define thickness of the floor. A manifold is located in
the center cavity of the floor, preferably of an annular shape
including an annular chamber and air input apperture, a plurality
of passageway openings radiating outwardly from the chamber, one
for each pie-section, and a closure means for each passageway
opening, capable of opening and closing air flow in and out of each
opening. An opening is provided in each pie-section near the center
of the section opening into the center cavity and each passageway
opening is sealably connected to the opening in each pie-section.
Each pie-section and inner face edge sealing system comprise an
outside circle vertical wall, vertical side walls radiating from
the center of the annular shape joining adjacent pie-sections, and
an inner section wall defining the center cavity. Again, inner face
edge sealing means for the floor includes material of the faces
interleafed together, and adhesive seal between inner faces and at
least one sewn stitch along the length of the inner face through
all thicknesses being joined.
While this invention has been described with reference to the
specific embodiments disclosed herein, it is not confined to the
details set forth and the patent is intended to include
modifications and changes which may come within and extend from the
following claims.
* * * * *